Moroccan writer Zineb Mekouar has won Belgium’s prestigious Horizon Prize for her acclaimed second novel Remember the Bees (Souviens-toi des abeilles), a poetic and deeply sensitive work exploring climate change, family memory, and ancestral traditions in southern Morocco.
Published by Gallimard, the novel takes readers into Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains, where ecological fragility, intergenerational transmission, and collective memory unfold through the eyes of a child initiated into the secrets of an ancient communal beehive.
Awarded in Marche-en-Famenne, the Horizon Prize recognizes every two years the best second novel written in French, honoring emerging authors who have established a strong literary voice.
The Belgian literary prize is notable for its unique selection process, with the winner chosen directly by readers participating in reading committees across Belgium and France’s Grand Est region.
Zineb Mekouar received the award after a day of discussions and exchanges between the five finalist authors and the reading committees involved in the final vote.
Speaking to MAP following the ceremony, Mekouar described the event as “a wonderful day of exchanges, very enriching and deeply human”, emphasizing the special relationship between writers and readers.
Clearly moved after the announcement, the Moroccan novelist praised “an original prize” based on readers’ votes and expressed her happiness at receiving such an important distinction.
“It creates social bonds. We see how literature can help rebuild connections and encourage readers to talk to one another through books”, she said. “Literature is not simply about reading a book; it is also about discussing it, sharing stories, and coming together”.
Founded twelve years ago by the Belgian city of Marche-en-Famenne, the Horizon Prize supports French-language authors whose second novels confirm their literary promise. A professional jury first selects finalists from around fifty published works before readers determine the winner through direct voting.
Remember the Bees has already received significant critical acclaim in France. The novel previously earned Zineb Mekouar the Henri de Régnier Prize in 2025 from the Académie française. It was also listed among the Summer Favorites 2024 of the Académie Goncourt, shortlisted for the 2024 Jean Giono Award, and awarded the Folire Prize in 2025.
The other finalists in the 8th edition of the Horizon Prize included Claire Vesin for Le lotissement, Marie Mangez for Les vérités parallèles, Ketty Rouf for Mère absolument, and Benjamin de Laforcade for Berlin pour elles.
Born in Casablanca in 1991 and living in Paris since 2009, Zineb Mekouar first gained recognition with her debut novel La poule et son cumin, published in 2022 by JC Lattès and shortlisted for the Goncourt Prize for a First Novel.
- Source: MAP